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Monday, October 24, 2011

October Sky

It was 60 degrees and partly cloudy when my husband asked if I wanted to take a last ride in our dinghy before he rolled it out behind the shed and covered it for the winter.  Sigh.  I’m a fair-weather boater.  When I get cold, I tend to stay that way for a long, long time so late October is well past my season.  I love the little boat though, so I hemmed and hawed, and finally agreed, pulling on a hooded sweatshirt and packing my windbreaker and a fleece.  

We trailed the boat one town over to Hingham Harbor, which is about five times the size of ours.  Depending on the channel you use, it leads out to Massachusetts Bay or to Boston Harbor and is pocked with small islands.  Its waters wend around World’s End, a park I’ve written about before, presenting stunning views of glacial drumlins mounding up through the trails.  I’ve never toured the harbor by boat.





And, yea, I got cold and the water got choppy, and we had to cut our scenic trip short when the wind blew up swells too great for the twelve-foot Meggie Lou.  But before that happened, we motored past the high tide line marking granite islands, and within a few yards of a pack of cormorants preening their feathers and hanging their wings to dry.  We churned through the afternoon sparkle on the water, envying the lobster boat far ahead cutting through washing-machine waves with ease.  We toyed with following him, but steady rollers began to lift our engine out of the water, making forward momentum impossible, which meant it was time to come about. 
 
When we turned, we had a long trip back. I pulled my hood over my baseball cap and held it closed with my hands.  With the wind at our back, I watched  the October sky unfurl in length like lead-colored batting,  and stitch itself  to the corners of our patch-worked autumn  earth.





19 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

Funny, I found some pictures of a storm on the beach over the weekend and forgot that's what they look like. We don't get clouds like that here, too many mountains.

And somewhere in the recesses of my brain, I named a character of mine Meggie. Durned if I remember which book she's in. (Also funny what happens to your brain when you get old.)

How'd you make out on your WiP? I finally finished re-reading mine over (took three days (before I started working on it again.) Made a few changes, tweaked, and then, the second I sat down to write the next chapter, The Monster called to come pick her up from her grandmother's house. I'm on it today like flies on horse poop.

Tamika: said...

Lisa, I've missed your lyrical writing!

I'm also with you in the colder weather- not my cup of tea:)

www.tamikaeason.com

Sharon said...

I could smell the salt air and feel the wind on my face. The bird sounds echoed in the distant recesses of my brain. Oh Lisa, how I loved taking this little voyage with you.

Old Kitty said...

Now those are true autumnal skies!! Wow - great pics and what an adventure you've had on your dinghy! Thanks for sharing! take care
x

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

Love that line about the lead-colored batting and the gorgeous photo that goes with it. Put me right there.

Dawn Simon said...

Your writing is so pretty.

I don't do cold weather well, either. :) I love Massachusetts. Also, the name of your boat is just perfect: The Meggie Lou.

'Yellow Rose' Jasmine said...

Beautiful stuff. You've given me an idea about how to deal with a post I've been meaning to make on The Salton Sea...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Now that is an awesome sky!!!!

VR Barkowski said...

Gorgeous pictures and beautiful words. I felt as though I was right there on the Meggie Lou. Thank you.

I love autumn, but I'm already digging out the extra blankets for the winter to come - and I live in Atlanta!

Sue said...

I love your first storm cloud picture; that was worth getting chilly for! (For me at least :) By golly you write well Liza. Thankyou for accepting your hubby's request to go out with him into the choppy waters. Sue

Martha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mary Sullivan Frasier said...

Ahhhh... You brought me right back to the coast with this one, Liza! I can't believe it was only a month ago that we were enjoying the sea air and the mist on our faces. There's no place like the Northeast coast in my book. I so envy your closeness to the water.

Stunning pictures of the bold autumn sky, too. Thanks for sharing them!

XOXO,
Mrs B

Jennifer Shirk said...

Wow, that sky picture is incredible.
I get chilled easily too--especially that damp cold from being on the water.

Wine and Words said...

This: "With the wind at our back, I watched the October sky unfurl in length like lead-colored batting, and stitch itself to the corners of our patch-worked autumn earth" is just beautiful, as are your photos and your heart :)

Carol Kilgore said...

Beautiful photos. Autumn touched us for a couple of days last week. And will again in a day or two. Today was 90.

mshatch said...

really love your photos :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

wow, that first cloud picture in particular catches the eye. It looks truly amazing.

J.B. Chicoine said...

Just love the lead-colored batting clouds! Your prose perfectly fits the beautiful photos...

Reena said...

Beautiful photos and love that third photo of the threatening clouds.